Hi,
My mini keeps loosing water from the radiator each day I have to fill it right up and on sunday it completely over heated so I changed the theromstat but it still loosing water any ideas?
There is no oil on the dipstick so I can pretty much rule out the head gasket gone.
Need some advice pretty urgent as i have to driver her 100 miles a day to work.
Cheers
Brad
Cooling
Started by
jif2006
, Jun 27 2006 08:53 AM
12 replies to this topic
#2
miniboo
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Posted 27 June 2006 - 08:55 AM
No oil on the dipstick?
Have you looked for leaks?
Have you looked for leaks?
#3
jif2006
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Super Mini Mad
Posted 27 June 2006 - 09:01 AM
Yep there is no water on the dipstick just oil if there was a funny oily water combination it would mean that there is water getting into the engine.
yeah checked for leaks.
yeah checked for leaks.
#4
Big_Adam
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Crazy About Mini's
Posted 27 June 2006 - 09:05 AM
well when a mini overheats theres a little pipe to allow all the excess water pressure out. maybe your rad cap is flummoxed.
apart from that i have no idea. my El Gordo once had a similar problem. put it in the garage for 2 days and liter or 2 worth of water when "somewere" never found out were.
apart from that i have no idea. my El Gordo once had a similar problem. put it in the garage for 2 days and liter or 2 worth of water when "somewere" never found out were.
#5
Jimmyarm
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Posted 27 June 2006 - 09:07 AM
Leak in one of the hoses (check these when its warm as there may be a crack that closes when the pipe is cool or its in one that only has pressure when the thermostat opens ?) or radiator ?
Is the water boiling and coming out of the overflow/expansion pipe ?
Try flushing the system out as per haynes (think there is a guide in the FAQ as well) and see if that fixes the problem.
Is the water boiling and coming out of the overflow/expansion pipe ?
Try flushing the system out as per haynes (think there is a guide in the FAQ as well) and see if that fixes the problem.
#6
Dan
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Posted 27 June 2006 - 11:37 AM
Why are you ruling out a failed head gakest just 'because the oil isn't reaching the sump? It could be just going directly into the cylinders and getting boiled off.
Could be a weak rad-cap as Adam says, try changing it. Check the heater for water staining on the bottom of it, it can leak really slowly from there and soak into the carpet so you can't always tell if it's leaking.
How full are you filling it? The water level should only be about an inch over the top of the rad cores when you look into the neck. If you are filling it right up to the top it will spit some out every time it runs.
Check for weeping core plugs around the block and a leaking pump as well as checking the hoses. Metal bits can leak as much as rubber bits.
Just to clarify what you said, there is oil on the dipstick right? The oil is part of the cooling system, low oil will cause over heating from increased friction and reduce oil cooling as well as being generally bad for the engine.
Could be a weak rad-cap as Adam says, try changing it. Check the heater for water staining on the bottom of it, it can leak really slowly from there and soak into the carpet so you can't always tell if it's leaking.
How full are you filling it? The water level should only be about an inch over the top of the rad cores when you look into the neck. If you are filling it right up to the top it will spit some out every time it runs.
Check for weeping core plugs around the block and a leaking pump as well as checking the hoses. Metal bits can leak as much as rubber bits.
Just to clarify what you said, there is oil on the dipstick right? The oil is part of the cooling system, low oil will cause over heating from increased friction and reduce oil cooling as well as being generally bad for the engine.
#7
jif2006
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Super Mini Mad
Posted 27 June 2006 - 11:54 AM
Yep there is sufficient oil in her will change the red cap and have a look at he hoses etc.
The rate in which it is loosing water is a consern as after an hours drive she is empty and requres 2 litres to fill up is this a bit quick for justy a leaking hose?
If the head gesket has gone what kinda price would I be looking at?
Cheers
BRAD
The rate in which it is loosing water is a consern as after an hours drive she is empty and requres 2 litres to fill up is this a bit quick for justy a leaking hose?
If the head gesket has gone what kinda price would I be looking at?
Cheers
BRAD
#8
Jimmyarm
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Posted 27 June 2006 - 12:10 PM
If the head gasket was gone and water was entering the chambers, there would be a fair amount of steam coming out of the exhaust ?
A new gasket kit only costs about a tenner from minisport or somewhere so that much if you do it yourself, its fairly simple not sure how much a garage would charge.
A new gasket kit only costs about a tenner from minisport or somewhere so that much if you do it yourself, its fairly simple not sure how much a garage would charge.
#9
jif2006
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Super Mini Mad
Posted 27 June 2006 - 12:31 PM
The leak is coming from the engine block from a bolt located just behind the alternatoer at a rate of drip ...... drip ........ drip sorry for the wiered drip drip bit but thats whats happening can no water from the exhaust though...
Any ideas?
cheers
brad
p.s. only leaks when the engine is running also
Any ideas?
cheers
brad
p.s. only leaks when the engine is running also
#10
Grayedout
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One Carb Or Two?
Posted 27 June 2006 - 12:34 PM
Bolt behind the alternator ?? Has it got a wire connected to it as well......if so then this is your temperature sensor !
First thing to try is remove the wire and see if you can tighten the sensor any !
First thing to try is remove the wire and see if you can tighten the sensor any !
#11
jif2006
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Super Mini Mad
Posted 27 June 2006 - 01:06 PM
That would be beside the alternator this is literaly behind the alternator on the engine block i think it could be the water pump gasket as it kinda pumps out of the bolt rather than drip.
cheers
brad
cheers
brad
#12
Jammy
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Moved Into The Garage
Posted 27 June 2006 - 02:10 PM
Which direction is the bolt pointing towards? The rad/side or alternator/front?
#13
jif2006
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Super Mini Mad
Posted 27 June 2006 - 02:54 PM
Well if you were to take off the alternator it is in front of you and it osn the left hand side alsways hard to explain unless you can actually see it lol.
Guy from my local club is going to drop off some parts and have a looksie at it to see whats needed so shoul be chigging away pretty soon..
Cheers
Brad
Guy from my local club is going to drop off some parts and have a looksie at it to see whats needed so shoul be chigging away pretty soon..
Cheers
Brad
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